Devotionals Detail

We have been preparing for 5 weeks for Easter. Our preparation in these 40 days of Lent is drawing to a close, as Holy week approaches. Our preparations have led us to fasting, penitence, almsgiving and through them, a reliance upon God’s grace.

The gospel of John gives a unique portrait of Jesus in his passion narrative this week, specifically in regard to the Day of Preparation. This is the Friday of Passover, where the temple priests would begin slaughtering the paschal animals. The Passover meal would take place that night. This is different from the other gospels, in which Jesus eats the Passover meal with his disciples.

For John, the symbolism is obvious: Jesus is the Paschal Lamb, slain for the sins of the world.

The irony lies in the timing: because the religious authorities are eager to maintain the ritual purity of Passover, it means they must not allow the dead body of the “condemned” to be left on the cross.

Their piety contrasts with the gross unjust act: the true Lamb of God has been crucified.

How often this is the case! Ritual purity is chosen over recognizing gross injustices. We see it every time a theology of exclusion is chosen over the inclusion of a beloved child of God. We feel it every time a spiritual leader abuses power and the innocent suffer. We know it every time a church utilizes its platform of people to support a political agenda of demonizing the ‘other.’

The power of institutionalized religion has all too often glossed over the forces of evil, injustice and oppression in our world. This is why in our baptism vows in the United Methodist Church, we specifically proclaim our resistance of those forces. This happens when we say “I do” to: “Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice and oppression in all the forms they present themselves?” (UMH 34). Our passion for justice is literally embedded in our Baptismal Order of Worship. The water of our baptismal purity connects to the water that flows from Jesus side as it is pierced. This ritual of purity only comes from the assurance of resisting injustice.

As we enter into the ritual acts of Holy week, may it be a time for us to prepare for how we are a living witness to the injustice of Christ’s broken body and the purity of our baptismal waters. Let us prepare to hold the tension of both in faithfulness to God’s call as a holy church.